He hadn’t meant to take her so roughly. Indeed, he’d sought her out for another reason altogether. But Allan’s news had shaken him, and he’d needed the soul-cleansing balm of her love.
Sliding out of her, he leaned forward to whisper in her ear again. “I have a surprise for you.”
She took a moment to collect her breath, before turning to face him. “Another one like that?”
“Jade.” Though he wished divining new ways of making love to her were all he had to worry about. The failed rescue and his brother’s fate in the pit haunted him. In his effort to avoid hurting Flora, he’d made the situation worse. He knew he had to go through with his original plan, but knowing didn’t make it any easier.
Sometimes, like right now, with her eyes bright with happiness as she looked at him as if he were some kind of heroic knight in shining armor, it hurt just to look at her. Her innocent happiness ate at him. More than once, it had been on the tip of his tongue to tell her everything about his brother and the bargain he’d made with her cousin—usually at moments like this in the afterglow of their shared passion, when it seemed their love was the most indestructible. But no matter how many times he made love to her over the past few days, he still he couldn’t be sure of her reaction. Her natural stubbornness coupled with her unreasonable fear of ending up like her mother were wild cards. And he couldn’t risk his brother’s life or the safety of his clan, not when it was in his power to do otherwise.
So the frustration and anger built inside him. Some of which, he knew, was coming out in his lovemaking. Like now, when he took her hard and rough in a maelstrom of reckless need. He knew she sensed it, not understanding what drove him to such extremes of passion. All too soon, she would know why.
He brushed a golden wisp of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She smiled and nuzzled her cheek into the palm of his hand.
He felt a sharp pinch in his chest and had to look away. “Come,” he said, dropping his hand to step away from her. “But you’ll have to straighten your clothes first.”
She blushed and began to work the ties of her gown that he’d nearly ripped apart in his efforts to free her breasts. Just the thought of being inside her made him hot all over again. His need was insatiable. Drowning in her heat, he could forget everything else. For a while.
“What kind of surprise is it? Where are we going?”
He shook his head and turned away from her naked chest. “Patience, little one. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise, now, if I told you, would it?”
When she’d seen to her clothing, he took her hand and led her from the solar through the great hall and up the tower stairs.
“You’re taking me to my chamber?”
“Yes, though it won’t be for very much longer.” He grabbed the handle and pushed open the door, then led her through. “We’ll have to move it all over again tomorrow.”
She gazed around at the stack of trunks piled high around the small room. “What…” Her gaze shot to him in sudden comprehension. “My clothes,” she said, stunned. “You sent for my clothes.”
“And shoes,” he added. “Don’t forget the shoes.” Two trunks’ worth of shoes. His back still ached just thinking about it. Who knew a woman’s slippers could be so heavy? By the third level of stairs, he would have sworn the trunks were loaded with stones. “I thought you might be weary of Mary’s old gowns and—”
But he didn’t finish because she’d hurled herself in his arms and started pressing kisses over his mouth and jaw. He knew she’d be pleased, but he hadn’t expected this effusion of sentiment. She must have missed her finery more than he’d realized. He’d never understand women’s fascination with fashion. Not that he minded right now, when he was reaping the benefits.
“Oh, you are the most wonderful man!” She beamed. “How shall I ever thank you?”
His mouth crooked. “I can think of a few ways.”
She pursed her mouth playfully, her eyes bright with mischief. “I’m sure you can. But that will have to wait. At least until I’ve unpacked.” She opened the nearest trunk and started pulling out gown after gown and different parts of gowns—sleeves, foreparts, skirts, and ruffs—as fast as she could, making little sighing sounds of pleasure whenever she came across one that she particularly liked. She was like a bairn in a room fool of sweets. There were silks, velvets, wools, brocades, and satins in every color embroidered with jewels, metallic threads, and lace. He’d never seen such a wardrobe; it was fit for a queen.
Lachlan was pleased that he’d made her so happy, but he couldn’t resist the twinge of unease when faced with such obvious signs of wealth. It had been some time since she’d worn that elaborate bridal gown to dinner; attired in Mary’s castoffs, it was easy to forget the world from which she came. Where would she wear all of this? For the yearly journey to Edinburgh when he was forced to present himself before the king?
Watching the pile on her bed grow higher made his next surprise seem woefully inadequate.
He walked toward the fireplace and picked up the small box he’d placed on the chair earlier. “I’ll leave you to your unpacking, then, but before I go, I have one more thing for you.”
She placed the stack of fine linen sarks she’d removed from the trunk on the bed and turned to him. “What more could you possibly give me? You’ve already given me so much.”
“’Tis but a small token. A gift to mark the occasion of our marriage.”
Her face fell. “But I have nothing for you.”
“I have all I want.” He held out the box. “Please, take it.”
Eyeing him hesitantly, she took the box and then sat on the chair to open it. He held still as he waited for her to untie the string and lift off the top. She was looking down, so he couldn’t see her face, but he heard her gasp. Carefully, she slid one of the slippers from the box and held it up to the light. The tiny pearls and diamonds that lined the heel of the delicate silk shoe caught the flame of the fire and sparkled. “Lachlan…” Her voice was full of wonder. She turned to him with wide blue eyes. “But how?”
He tried to hide his pleasure that his gift had pleased her. “I know it’s a tradition for the father to present shoes to the groom, but I thought since…I thought you could wear them on our wedding. I had them made in ivory since I didn’t know what color gown you would wear.”
She slipped her delicate arched foot into the shoe and straightened her leg to admire it.It must be innate,he thought. His sisters did exactly the same thing whenever they had new shoes.
